Bathroom structure and fixture



INVENTORS Gilber MMurtrie Rober W|II|om Nagel Foe h7 ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept- 13, w66 G. MGMURTRIE ETAL BATHROOM STRUCTURE AND FIXTURE Filed July 22, 1965 SSP- 13, 1966 G. MGMURTRIE ETAL 3,271,793

BATHROOM STRUCTURE AND FIXTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1965 f5 AF Sept 13, 1956 G. MGMURTRIE ETAL 3,271,793

BATHROOM STRUCTURE AND FIXTURE Filed July 22, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet .5

Fig. 7

/ 220 INVENTORS Gilbert McMurtrie G G O/ O i O O C Reben` William No I Edward gli Fo PMO eww M c- 7/7 ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1966 G. MGMURTRIE ETAL. 3,271,793

BATHROOM STRUCTURE AND FIXTURE Filed July 22, 1963 '4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENToRs Gilbert McMurtrle Robert William Nol Edward Wole Fo w 9m ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,271,793 BATHROOM STRUCTURE AND FIXTURE Gilbert MclVlUrtrie and Robert William Nagel, Louisville, Ky., and Edward Walter Forth, New Canaan, Conn., assignors to American Radiator Standard Sanitary Corporation, New York, NX., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 22, 1963, Ser. No. 296,571 2 Claims. (Cl. 4-252) This invention relates to an improved integrated bathroom unit and a method for constructing and installing the same.

The integrated bathroom unit of the present invention is essentially a prefabricated component which may be suitably supported or hung with a minimum of effort, time, and cost. The supply, drain, and vent lines required by the lavatory and water closet are prefabricated so that in installing the unit, it is only necessary to connect up a single hot and cold water line and a single drain and vent line. The flush tank and all piping are arranged in the framework so that they will be concealed from view when enclosure members are attached to the framework. The unit may be hung, for example, from the type of bathroom frame structure disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 296,574, filed July 22, 1963, now U.S. Patent No. 3,230,549, or may be installed in any other suitable arrangement.

The water closet ush tank is supported on a carrier which is located within the enclosure of the framework. In addition, to supporting the flush tank, the carrier also serves to support the water closet bowl, to provide a down leg for the water closet siphon, to provide a passageway between the flush tank and the water closet, and to provide means for venting the drain piping. The carrier has a base which rests on a portion ofthe bathroom oor underlying the framework and may be held in place by securing it directly to the floor or to a portion of the building wall against which the framework is placed.

The integrated bathroom unit of the present invention eliminates the necessity of having to install and support, in or on building walls, separate plumbing fixtures and separate plumbing components such as traps, valves, and couplings, piecemeal thereby reducing the cost of installation and increasing the quality of workmanship in the finished unit since prefabrication in a factory facilitates components being manufactured and assembled to chosen tolerances. By combining the lavatory and water closet within a single enclosed framework and concealing the plumbing and flush tank, the appearance of a bathroom is enhanced while the absence of floor supports provides maximum cleaning ease and improved sanitation all without the need for extra labor time at the construction site.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an integrated bathroom unit having a lavatory and water closet which can be installed with a minimum of time and effort.

Another object is to provide an integrated bathroom unit which may be hung from a suitable frame structure installed within a bathroom without individual leveling.

Another object is to provide an integrated bathroom unit having a concealed carrier for supporting a water closet flush tank and water closet bowl, and for conducting flush water to and from the water closet bowl.

Another object is to provide a bathroom unit having a lavatory, a water closet, and a paper dispenser formed into an integrated unit.

Another object is to provide an integrated lavatory and water closet bathroom unit which can be readily prefabricated.

. Another object is to provide an integrated lavatory and water closet unit which does not have any exposed floor "ice supports and which provides maximum cleaning ease and improved sanitation.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation of a water closet embodying the present invention showing the water closet bowl and carrier in section and the flush tank in broken lines.

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the carrier looking along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1 in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the carrier looking along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the water closet bowl.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional elevation of a modified carrier in which an upstanding support extending from the base of the carrier is used for securing the carrier in place.

FIGURE 7 is a view of the upper portion of the upstanding support looking along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6 in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective rear view of a partially assembled integrated bathroom unit of the present invention showing the framework, lavatory, water closet flush tank, carrier and interconnecting piping.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective front View of the unit shown in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a partial section view of means for hanging the integrated bathroom unit on a frame structure.

Before describing the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings, a carrier 10 secured to the floor 11 is shown as carrying a water closet flush tank 12 and a water closet bowl 14. The carrier 10 supports the weight of the overlying flush tank 12 and the weight of the laterally projecting water closet bowl 14 and is accordingly made of suitable design and of suitable material, such as an integral cast iron fitting, to provide a rigid support for this purpose. In addition, to supporting the weight of the water closet bowl and flush tank, the carrier 10 provides communication between the flush tank 12 and water closet bowl 14 by means of the integral passageway 16 and also provides siphon leg for the water closet bowl by means of the internal passageway 13.

In order that the carrier will remain stable in its normal upright position as shown in FIGURE 1, suitable securing means are provided for firmly holding the carrier in place in the desired position with respect to the integrated frame. In this regard, it will be noted that the laterally projecting water closet bowl 14 will tend to unbalance or tip over the carrier 10 unless it is firmly secured in place. Accordingly, such securing means may be further supplemented, if desired, by providing suitable openings in a bottom portion of thecarrier such as the openings 20 (FIGURE 4) in la bottom plate 22. These openings 20 are adapted to receive upstanding studs 26 securely Ifixed to the floor 11, on which the carrier is to be mounted, such as for example, by embedding the studs 26 in concrete. The bottom plate 22 may be formed integrally with the carrier by providing integral ribs 24 and 25 4between the top of the plate 22 and the lower conduit portion of the carrier.

The studs 26 are spaced to correspond to the spacing of the openings in the bottom plate 22 so that the carrier 10 can be lowered over the studs 26y and the suitable means such as nuts 27 can be threaded on the studs 26 to thereby kfirmly secure the carrier to the oor.

The conduit 18, sometimes referred to as a down leg or syphoning leg, leads from a front opening 30 at its upper portion to extend downwardly to a laterally extending portion 32 which may be of a T-sha-ped form. A T-shape has the advantage over an L-shape in that it can have either a right han-ded or left handed discharge into a waste line.

The front opening 30 of the carrier may be provided with an opening to receive waste water from the Water closet bowl 14 and conduct it to the T-shaped outlet 32 for discharge through either end 34 or 35 of the head of the T depending on which end is connected to a soil pipe and which end is capped to facilitate cleaning. As mentioned, it is to -be noted that soil pipe may extend, from either the right or left of the T-shaped outlet 32 merely by capping the end 34 or 35 of the head of the T not being used and connecting the soil pipe to the other end thereby providing exibility in installation. If, however, there is no need for such flexibility or for a clean out, then the transverse connection can be of an L-shape configuration.

A web 3-1 may be provided to rigidify the portion of the carrier defining the conduit 18. An opening 36 and corresponding flange 37 may be provided in the head of the T to receive a waste conduit from another source such as from the waste pipe leading from an adjacent lavatory.

In order to support the Hush tank 12 on the carrier 10 a pair of laterally extending support anges 38, 39 (FIGURE 2) are provided on either side of a carrier flush water inlet opening 40. The flush tank 12 sits on these support anges 38, 39 while openings 42 may be provided in the support flanges for receiving suitable fastening means such as bolts 43 passing through the bottom of the flush tank 12 for holding the tank firmly to the carrier. Suitable means for maintaining a watertight seal between the carrier and the flush tank are also provided. Such means may comprise a ring 4'5 above the carrier inlet opening and separated therefrom by a suitable gasket or packing, such as a rubber ring 46.

The ring 46 is compressed as the bolts 43 are tightened while a nipple 47, threaded to the ring and passing through an opening in the bottom of the flush tank, cooperates with another sealing ring 48 to complete the watertight seal.

The carrier ush water inlet opening 40 communicates with the carrier flush water outlet opening 50 via the carrier flush water passageway 16. Suitable means for maintaining a watertight seal between the carrier flush water outlet opening 50 and the water closet bowl flush water inlet opening are provided which may comprise a later-ally extending flange 52 on the carrier which lits into the water closet flush water inlet opening while a suitable gasket or packing such as a rubber ring S4 is provided between the carrier and the water closet bowl to maintain a watertight seal therebet-ween.

Thus, from the above description it can be seen that flush water will ow from the flush tank 12 to the water closet bowl 14 via the flush water passageway `16. Such flow of water will flush the water closet as hereinafter described, while the waste water leaving the water closet bowl will exit from the water closet bowl waste outlet opening and pass directly into the carrier waste inlet opening 30 to be discharged to waste via the conduit 18 in the carrier. Suitable means for maintaining a watertight seal is also provided between the water closet bowl and the carrier which may comprise a suitable gasket or packing such as a rubber ring 56 therebetween.

It will be noted in FIGURE 1 that the carrier flush Water inlet 4t) is located above the carrier waste inlet 30 and that an integral web S8 therebetween prevents any communication between the carrier flush water passageway 16 and the carrier waste passageway 18.

In order to support the water closet bowl 14 on the carrier 1()` support means are provided which may comprise a pair of flanges 60, 62 extending laterally from the sides of the carrier and a boss 64 projecting forwardly at the lower portion of the carrier waste conduit. These flanges 60, d2 and the boss 64 are provided with openings such as at 65 and 65 for receiving fastening means such as threaded bolts or studs 67 for holding the water closet bowl 14 firmly to the flanges 60, 62 and boss 64 of the carrier.

The water closet bowl 14 is also provided with integral anges having openings for receiving the fastening bolts or studs. FIGURE l shows an integral downwardly extending flange 70 having an opening to accommodate the stud 67. The ange 70 is located generally centrally of the water closet bowl 14 and lies within a cavity 72 formed in the bottom rear of the water closet bowl thereby serving to conceal the stud 67 and its nut.

The upper rear side portions of the water closet bowl 14 are provided with cavities 74 and 76 (FIGURE 5) to permit access to fastening bolts or studs (not shown) passing through openings 78 and 80 in a rear flange 82 of the bowl. These openings are spaced to correspond to the spacing of the openings 615 in the anges 60 and 62 of the carrier 10 so that the fastening bolt heads or stud nuts will bear against the ange 82 to support the bowl 14 on the carrier. Access to these bolts or studs is provided by removable side panels 83 and 84 which may be secured to the water closet bowl by a suitable means to provide a closure.

With the larrangement `of the water closet bowl, flush tank, `and carrier as yabove described the distance that the water closet bowl projects from the panel or wall W, is kept lat a minimum since the water closet bowl does not have to have a ledge to support the ush tank nor does it have an integral siphon leg as in the case of known prior rart wall mounted water closets. Also, since the Siphon leg is combined Within the carrier, the support for the water closet bowl is closer to the water closet bowl proper thereby reducing the stress on the water closet due to applied weight since the moment arm be- -tween the center of gravity of the weight :applied to the water closet and the support `at the base of the carrier can be kept at -a minimum.

The water lcloset is operated by means (not shown) which allows Hush water t-o flow from the Hush tank 14 through the carrier passageway 16 to the rim passageway 86 `of the water closet bowl. This rim passageway 86 is provided with openings 88 to allow water to flow to the bowl -to exit through the bowl outlet opening 90 where it then passes through the upward conduit of the trap 92. The rim passageway 86 is yalso in communication with a passageway 94 extending to a location below the bowl outlet opening 90.

The larrangement `of the various passageways and openings in a conventional water closet is such to produce -a siphoning action which is well known to those skilled in the art. To obtain proper siphon characteristics, a downwardly extending siphon leg is usually used in `conjunction with an upwardly extending leg or trap, such as the trap 92 in FIGURE 1. In the presen-t invention, the downwardly extending Siphon leg is incorporated in the carrier 1&1 in the form of the conduit 18. If desired, this conduit 18 may have Ia serpentine construction as shown in FIGURE 1 to introduce turbulence into the water to reduce its velocity and promote siphonic action.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the flush tank 12 and carrier are mounted behind a wall W so that only the water closet bowl 14 ycan be seen. The water closet bowl is of course provided with a seat (not shown) which is secured by fastening means (not shown) passing through the openings 96 at the upper rear portion of the water closet bowl.

As can be seen in the FIGURES 8 and 9, the carrier 10 is secured to the oor of the building in the manner previously set forth while a frame 98 of suitable construction is provided for enclosing the carrier 10, the Hush tank 12 and its associated services, and Ialso for supporting a lava-tory 99 and enclosing its -associated servrces.

The frame 98 is made up of suitable structunal members such as angles or U-shaped channels secured together in the manner shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 by suitable means such :as by Welding or fastening devices. The frame 98 is an integrated unit to provide rigidity for supporting the lavatory 99, a cabinet or laundry hamper 100 therebelow, paneling .such as shown at 102 along the front, a paper Idispenser 104, and a counter top 106 of which a portion is shown extending around the lavatory. The paneling 102 extends completely across the front of the frame wi-th a suitable opening being provided Where the water closet bowl is connected to the carrier. The `counter 106 extends over the ush tank providing a separate access to the flush tank.

The frame 98 may be hung or suspended from a sui-table frame structure .as mentioned heretofore. FIGURE l0 for example shows a portion of a suitable frame structure 103 of the supporting transverse members such as the hook or Z-member 105 to dene la channel for receiving a suitable complementary hook member of the integrated bathroom unit. Thus a pair of longitudinally extending Z-members such as the one 'at 105 may be provided to receive integrated bathroom unit fr-ame members 107 and 111 shown in FIGURES 8 and 10. Such hook or Z-members will support the integrated b-athroom unit land the components mounted thereon so that the unit can be installed rapidly and also there is no need to level off each component as in the case of prior art devi-ces since the frame member is leveled when it is installed. Also hanging the unit provides precision of dimension to permit installation of a wall cabinet (not shown) there above without trimming.

A hot and cold water pipe 108 and 109 respectively are concealed in the framework 98 for supplying water to the lavatory 99 while Ithe cold water pipe 109 has a branch pipe 110 leading to the open top of the flush lsank. This flush tank inlet arrangement eliminates the requirement to provide a watertight seal between a ush Water inlet conduit and the .ush tank as would be required in the case of a conventional bottom or side inlet. The hot and cold water pipes terminate in couplings 112 and 114 4a-t one side of the frame so that they can be easily connected to the supply pipes (not shown).

The drain line 116 for the lavatory 99 has a U-shaped trap portion 118 underlying the lavatory 99 and extends to the T portion 32 of the ycarrier 10 to thereby provide :a common waste discharge for the water closet and the lavatory. A vent pipe 120 having a portion in common with the lavatory drain line 116 is provided to vent the discharge of sewer gases. Theb discharge line or soil pipe 122 leading from one end of the T portion 32 of the carrier extends to the same side of the frame as the vent pipe 120 and the hot and cold Water lines 108 :and 109 so -that they can all be easily and conveniently connected to the services of the building where the unit is to be installed. Cross members such as at 124, 125,

land 126 are provided to support the extremities of the piping `at the end of the frame.

The hot and cold water lines 108 and 109 are provided with extensions 128 and 130 for supplying hot and cold water to a bathtub or shower (not shown) which may 6 be located adjacent to the framework 98; valves 132 and 134 yare service supply shut-olf valves.

If desired, the integrated unit may be assembled so that the services extend to the opposite side of the frame 98. This can be done by reversing the positions -of the cap 136 and discharge conduit 122 and extending the discharge conduit 122, vent line and hot and cold water lines 108, 109 to the left (as viewed in FIGURE 8) rather than to the right as shown.

As can best be seen in FIGURE 9, the lavatory 99 extends out further than that portion of the frame enclosing the flush tank, thus making it possible to install the paper dispenser 104 in a convenient location at the side of the lavatory adjacent to the water `closet bowl.

In a modified form -of our invention shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7, the carrier 10a instead of being secured to the floor, is provided with an upstanding support member 140 which is secured to the wall against which the frame 98 is located. The lower end of the support member 140 is attached to the carrier 10a such as by fastening mean-s or an integral web 142 while the upper end is provided with a transverse member 144 having a plurality of openings 146 such that lone of the openings will match up with a frame member or stud 148-. The length of the transverse members 144 and the spacing of the holes 146 therein are such that one of the holes will line up with one 'of the frame members or studs .so that fastening means such as the screw 150 may be fastened thereto.

This modified arrangement offers the advantage of having the weight of the water closet being supported on the floor without requiring securing means on the licor. Also, by extending the support arm upwardly as shown, the stress on the Wall studs due to the tendency of the water closet to tip will be kept at a -mini-mum because of the 4relatively long moment arm between the potential pivot axis of the carrier, which is located at the forward edge 4of the base, and the fastening bolt. Furthermore, the tendency for the closet to tip will impart an upward or shearing force to the bolt, instead of a pulling for-ce tending to pull the bolt longitudinally out of the stud so that the stress on the stud will be longitudinally thereof rather than transverse. Because of the nature of wall construction, it is obvious that the stud is better able to withstand a longitudinal force rather than a transverse pull.

From the above description it can be seen that the integrated bathroom unit of the present invention can be essentialy prefabricated and installed in a building with a minimum of effort, time, and cost. The unsightly supply, drain, and vent lines are concealed from View along with the entire water closet except for the closet bowl. A paper dispenser is conveniently located in the unit adjacent to the water closet bowl while a hamper is conveniently located beneath the lavatory. The carrier for the water closet which is installed with the unit serves to support the closet bowl and ush tank while at the same time providing a siphon leg for the water closet and a conduit for conducting water from the flush tank to the closet bowl. The integrated bathroom unit may be hung from a suitable frame structure thus eliminating the necessity of having to level olf the various components.

The servi-ces for the lavatory and/ or Water closet m-ay be combined and prefabricated so that the barest minimum lof services connections are required to finally install the unit.

The present invention combines the lavatory and water closet into a single enclosed integrated unit to enhance the appearance of a bathroom while the absence of floor supports provides maximum cleaning ease and improved sanitation.

The integrated bathroom unit of the present invention is particularly well suited for use in prefabricated bathrooms of the type utilizing methods and fixtures such as that ldescribed in copending applications: Serial No. 296,570, filed July 22, 1963; Serial No. 296,574, tiled E July 22, 1963, now U.S. Patent No. 3,230,549', Serial No. 296,559, filed July 22, 1963, now U.S. Patent No. 3,244,- 464.

The invention hereinabove described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, yfor the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure as shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A water closet structure comprising a water closet bowl having a rear end substantially vertical mounting face, said bowl having an upper flushing water inlet opening through the mounting face and a water outlet below said inlet also opening through the mounting face, a carrier bodily suppo-rting said closet bowl close to floor level and having a bottom horizontal mounting plate for rigid attachment to a floor, said carrier being generally upstanding and having an upwardly facing top flange adjacent the top of said bowl for the mounting and support of a ush tank, a generally vertical forward face on said carrier adapted to abut with said rear end mounting face of the bowl, bolt means detachably rigidly interconnecting said bowl and carrier with said faces in abutting relation, said carrier having a substantially horizontal flushing water inlet passage leading from said top flange in direct communication with said upper inlet of the bowl, said carrier having a serpentine syphoning leg immediately rearwardly of the Ibowl including a top fonwardly facing opening in direct communication with said bowl outlet, and a lower end horizontal generally T-shaped discharge head on said carrier including a horizontal transverse sleeve connected at its Aforward side and near its midpoint with the bottom of the syphoning leg, either end of said sleeve adapted for connection with a soil pipe while the opposite end is suitably closed, said T-shaped head being immediately above the mounting plate of the carrier and adjacent the bottom of the bowl.

2, The invention as defined by claim 1, and a pair of horizontal laterally oppositely extending support anges on the top of said carrier adapted for connection with the bottom of said flush tank, and a pair of laterally oppositely extending brace flanges having forward vertical faces on the carrier near the top thereof and below said support anges and adapted for connection with the back of the closet ybowl to stabilize the same.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 650,897 6/1900 Hinsdale 4-252 X 1,040,823 10/1912 Watrous 4-252 1,179,588 4/ 1916 Watrous 4--252 1,947,639 2/1934- Brain 4-252 1,996,693 4/1935 Wallace 4-252 2,130,196 9/1938 Sakier 4-166 2,331,592 10/ 1943 Bagwell 4 2 2,875,453 3/1959 Baker et al. 4-252 3,047,106 7/ 1962 Callahan 4-2 3,124,808 3./ 1964 Tiller 4 3 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

HENRY T. KINKSIEK, Examiner. 

1. A WATER CLOSET STRUCTURE COMPRISING A WATER CLOSET BOWL HAVING A REAR END SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL MOUNTING FACE, SAID BOWL HAVING AN UPPER FLUSHING WATER INLET OPENING THROUGH THE MOUNTING FACE AND A WATER OUTLET BELOW SAID INLET ALSO OPENING THROUGH THE MOUNTING FACE, A CARRIER BODILY SUPPORTING SAID CLOSET BOWL CLOSE TO FLOOR LEVEL AND HAVING A BOTTOM HORIZONTAL MOUNTING PLATE FOR RIGID ATTACHMENT TO A FLOOR, SAID CARRIER BEING GENERALLY UPSTANDING AND HAVING AN UPWARDLY FACING TOP FLANGE ADJACENT THE TOP OF SAID BOWL FOR THE MOUNTING AND SUPPORT OF A FLUSH TANK, A GENERALLY VERTICAL FORWARD FACE ON SAID CARRIER ADAPTED TO ABUT WITH SAID REAR END MOUNTING FACE OF THE BOWL, BOLT MEANS DETACHABLY RIGIDLY INTERCONNECTING SAID BOWL AND CARRIER WITH SAID FACES IN ABUTTING RELATION, SAID CARRIER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL FLUSING WATER INLET PASSAGE LEADING FROM SAID TOP FLANGE IN DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH SAID UPPER INLET OF THE BOWL, SAID CARRIER HAVING A SERPENTINE SYPHONING LEG IMMEDIATELY REARWARDLY OF THE BOWL INCLUDING A TOP FORWARDLY FACING OPENING IN DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH SAID BOWL OUTLET, AND A LOWER END HORIZONTAL GENERALLY T-SHAPED DISCHARGE HEAD ON SAID CARRIER INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL TRANSVERSE SLEEVE CONNECTED AT ITS FORWARD SIDE AND NEAR ITS MIDPOINT WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE SYPHONING LEG, EITHER END OF SAID SLEEVE ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION WITH A SOIL PIPE WHOLE THE OPPOSITE END IS SUITABLY CLOSED, SAID T-SHAPED HEAD BEING IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE MOUNTING PLATE OF THE CARRIER AND ADJACENT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOWL. 